December 2015

Dec 201515

Emotional Christmas Movie Moments

Laura Roberts info

Christmas is a time for love, happiness and smiles all round, but sadly, the same can't be said for Christmas films . In fact, Christmas movies can be pretty darn depressing at times, as illustrated by some of the examples below.

I should warn you that there will be spoilers below, so if you're planning on watching some of these and haven't already, it's probably a good idea not to read the descriptions....

The Snowman - Snowman melts:

This film broke our hearts as children, and it still does to this day. It sets about fulfilling a childhood dream, then goes and completely destroys it! A boy is led by his snowman companion, flies to the North Pole with him to meet Father Christmas, only to discover that he's a melted puddle by the next day! Traumatic to say the least...

A Christmas Carol (2009) - Christmas Past:

Don't let the combination of animation and Jim Carey fool you, this version of Dickens' classic is pretty dark and depressing at times, particularly during the 'Christmas past' section. Not only do we see Scrooge as a sad and lonely little boy at boarding school, we then have to watch as he endures the death of his sister, and loses the woman he loves due to his developing fixation with wealth.

A Muppet Christmas Carol - Tiny Tim prophecy:

Although this version is far more light-hearted than the 2009 adaptation, it still has a few moments that leave us feeling rather emotional. Once such moment comes later in the film, as the silent and creepy Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come reveals that adorable Tiny Tim will not be alive next Christmas.

Jack Frost - Jack is put to rest:

Okay, so a few people may have commented that the snowman looks a little creepy, but there's still no denying that this is a heart-warming family film. At the very end of the movie, Jack has to part ways with his son Charlie, this time, getting a chance to say the goodbye he never got the first time round. This makes for a sad and bitter-sweet ending to a story of second chances, giving us all the feels, all at once.

Love Actually - Too many moments to count:

Love Actually has to be the best, British Christmas film, with a stellar cast and a host of both hilarious and sad moments. From Colin Firth's sad goodbye to his Portuguese housekeeper, to Andrew Lincoln's confession of love to Keira Knightly (his best friend's wife) on her doorstep, this film is filled with emotional moments to get those tears flowing. The award for saddest moment of all goes to Emma Thompson, however, for that emotional realization scene when she discovers her husband has bought a necklace for another woman. We can't even listen to that Joni Mitchell song without sobbing.

Edward Scissorhands- Hold me

Although this film is pretty melancholy throughout, the part that hits us right where it hurts is when Kim lovingly asks Edward to hold her, to which the replies 'I can't'. Burdened by difference and doomed to a life without normality, Edward is forced to endure a reclusive existence once more, free from the judgement of humanity.

For more Christmas Posts, follow us on Twitter. We promise they're a lot more cheerful that this one!

Dec 201514

Deal of the week: Maze Cube - Large

andrew gadget inspector news, gifts & gadgets

Do you love a challenge? Do you enjoy a good puzzle to get your brain working? If so, this Maze Cube - Large is perfect for you!

This 3D Tetris-like puzzle has 19000 possible solutions, so it should keep you busy up until Christmas next year! It consists of 13 different pieces in red, blue and yellow, which make a thousand different configurations. When put together correctly, you can make a perfect cube.

If this Maze Cube interests you, then you'll be happy to know that it is our Deal Of The Week, and it is now reduced to £4.50! That's more than 50% off, what a bargain!

If you're looking for the ultimate brain teaser that will challenge you this Christmas, then look no further than our Maze Cube - Large! With over 19000 different solutions, you won't be getting bored of this in a hurry!

Click Here to check out our other puzzles!

Dec 201511

Christmas Nostalgia: Gifts from Days Gone By

andrew info

Below are some of the most popular and well-loved gifts of Christmases past, but looking back, it's rather difficult to understand the appeal of some of them... Just goes to show what great marketing can do for you.

Lava Lamp

You knew you'd reached the peak of maturity when you had one of these in your room! It almost felt like living in your own Nickelodeon TV show!

Nintendo 64

If you want to know JUST how awesome getting one of these for Christmas was, watch this video. With games like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, it's still considered to be one of the greatest consoles of all time.

Baby Born

Because apparently, having a doll which could pee itself on demand was what every little girl in the 90's really wanted. And people think that the 'period Barbie' idea is strange....

Bop It

This frustrating, reflex-testing game was a must-have item at all your childhood sleepovers, before it was thrown across the room in frustration of course. When they came out with the 'Extreme' version, it all got a bit much for us.

Furby

Was it an owl, an alien? No one really knew, but everyone wanted one! If you think about it, this was probably a far better test of your parenting skills than Baby Born or Tamagotchi ever was, as you prayed every waking moment that it would finally stop begging for food and Go.To.Sleep!

Mr Frosty

We're pretty sure that everyone still has one of those ice moulds lying in the back of their kitchen cupboard somewhere.

Chemistry Set

What could be a more wholesome and innocent gift for your child than a box of flammable chemicals? Most of these had 12+ ratings on the box, but you ignored that because you were such a rebel! You soon got tired of it once you'd realized that just about the only fun thing you could do with it was to burn magnesium.

Mouse Trap

This game seemed like the best idea ever, but once you'd realized how long it took to set up, the rare chance of being able to set off the chain reaction soon lost its shine. Plus, if you ever lost a single, tiny part, the entire game was left totally redundant.

For more fun posts about gadgets, gifts and pop culture, follow us on Twitter!

Dec 201510

Fun and Festive Drink Ideas

Laura Roberts party gadgets

Christmas is a time to eat, drink and be merry, so we thought we'd share some festive drinkspiration with you, to enjoy with friends at parties and get-togethers this year.

Cranberry Jelly Shots

All you'll need for this recipe is a pack of jelly mix, some cranberry juice and orange vodka.

Heat 2 1/4 cups of cranberry juice on the stove until it comes to the boil, then add in the jelly mix until dissolved. Add 3/4 cup of orange vodka before leaving them to set overnight. If you can't find the original ingredients, you could sub them to suit your needs, for example; using orange jelly and regular vodka. See the original recipe here.

Santa Shot

This awesome 2 colour shot is made with 1 part grenadine syrup, 1 part green creme de menthe, and 1 part peppermint schnapps.

First add some grenadine so it fills 1/3 of your glass. Then, add equal parts of the creme de menthe, and then the peppermint schnapps. If you've done it right, it should produce a lovely layered, look. See the full recipe here.

Eggnog

This one is pretty indulgent, so you'll need 1 litre of milk, 475ml of double cream, 12(yes you read that right) egg yolks, a tsp of vanilla extract, 475ml of whiskey, 12 egg whites, 200g of cater sugar and a pinch of ground nutmeg.

Click here for full instructions on how to make this creamy Christmas cocktail.

Icy Holiday Margaritas

For this you'll need 1/2 cup of thawed frozen cranberry juice, 1/2 cup of tequila, 1/4 cup of orange liqueur, 3 tbsp of melon liqueur and 5 cups of ice cubes. If you're feeling creative, you can also add some decorative sugar and/or berries for extra flair.

Blend all ingredients but the ice cubes, then, with the blender running (carefully) add the ice cubes one at the time through the lid opening. Blend until slushy. For more details, click here.

To give your drinks an additional impact, we also have some great glasses and drink accessories:

Ice Shot Glasses

Conundrum Wine Glasses

Mixology Mason Jars

Ice Ball Moulds

Mason Jar Shots

For more festive inspiration follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Dec 201509

Our Favourite Christmas Tunes

Joel Dear info

There's nothing like hearing your favourite Christmas songs to get you in in the festive spirit, so we thought we would put a little list together, sharing what we think are some of the best Christmas songs in existance!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

We haven't put an artist name to this song, because as you will discover if you do a little work on Google, it's been covered by almost everyone! From Bing Crosby, to The Beach Boys, to Michael Buble, this really is one of the most well-known songs in the Christmas canon. Plus, it's got Santa in the tile, so what more could you really want from a festive number?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams

There's no way to describe this song, other than pure Christmas joy! For those who just can't wait for Christmas, this is the perfect tune to express your excitement (it's probably more than a little irritating for all the scrooges out there too)!

Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade

'IT'S CHRIIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAAAAS!' Need I say more?

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - Nat King Cole

It's one of the more laid-back choices on our list, but this song couldn't be more festive! If this number doesn't make you want to stay indoors and snuggle up in front of a fire with a mince pie or glass of mulled wine, then I don't know what will.

Do They Know it's Christmas? - Band Aid (1984)

Although this list is all about fun, laughter and warmth for the most part, it's important to remember that not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy a carefree Christmas. This song reminds us every year that its original message is still important, while also being a great Christmas sing-a-long tune!

White Christmas - Bing Crosby

Again, this song is one of the more subdued melodies on our list, but the is no denying it's influence on the entire holiday season. It's sentimental, heart-warming, and apparently brought tears to the eyes of many WW2 soldiers, who were spending Christmas overseas when it was first released.

All I Want For Christmas is You - Mariah Carey

This song was a well established hit for years, but it seemed to gain even more popularity after the release of Christmas classic 'Love Actually', back in 2003. Don't lie, we all know that it's your favourite scene!

Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth - Bing and Bowie

This rock star/crooner combination left most people puzzled when it was first announced, but it really has stood the test of time to earn its place amongst Christmas classics! Try singing the harmonies with an older relative after dinner this year..

Last Christmas - Wham

This melancholy Christmas tune is as song which proves that the 1980's produced some of the best Christmas music! All you need is this with a slab of Stilton, and you're set for your yearly dose of Christmas cheese!

Wonderful Christmas Time - Paul McCartney

This has to be the best Christmas song ever, no debate. Okay, we know that everyone has their favourites, but this one should be pretty close to the top of everyone's list. Not only does it have some of the most jolly lyrics of any Christmas song in existence, it's also written and performed by a freakin' Beatle!